Permutation lock container



PERMUTATION LOCK CONTAINER Filed Oct. 8, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /gINVENTOR ATTORN EY July 12, 1949. 5, PIERCE, JR 2,476,062

PERMUTATION LOCK CONTAINER Filed 001;. 8, 1945 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 12, 1949 ITED .:S TATES ZPAJT EN TOFFICE.

'PERMUTATIGN LOCK CONTAINER silas A. Pierce, Jr., Pawtucket, R. 1.

Application October 8, 194-5, Serial No. 621,131

'8 Claims.

. :My invention mlates toiimprovements in conand particularly topermutation looks i'or said-containers.

.Anoblectofvmy invention-is to :modify the elements of large permutationlocks for sales and;

other. containers -=to:pmviea loch-which is commact macaw: up such smallcompass that it ca n-;be.readiiy:. mbstantially concealed :-in theJillmf' the containeritself: without thickening snldwall to -mnabnomaldegree.

.Aiflmthennbjedtofmy invention is to embody zn-incipleszotn permutationlock with a sell- :dosingsiaidz. :izmeferably -emmoy asimple pivmtingfiateh whiohxisslnm'moilyzurgedz to a closed 3Insition.;and;n:;mmmatlon. 1ock normally re- :ttiningfsaidwlalzzhr inifiatched:position, but .tln awhichthemmutationiocklngmembers are; movtogaositionsx: permitting unlatching orsald .:A.turtharoblqctz'ofzmysmoention .thereforexzls .to pmaldmm: mmmtutionx lnckwhi'oh beoomos ;-ltic'ally=cziosedm when the permumuniso: aaemmutaatedalignment hoxzisrmerdyazlosed.

members mommy :used in tamer-mutation slacks, :I wid -m:lilura'iityrsdnmterahly olosely :nested herniation members which may'::be rima-owlL-of theabox and (which have handleeimaerahle the exteriorof the box whioh selectively set inwelative per- .mutated arrangement topermit imlatching of the latch.

further noblectrof my:lnvention to --provide almhimd adevor ioromtinssaid latch, hot-h of mayphat in I a mrallel --hlane :paralleltetothe wallofwtheboren which they-are-mounted.

4 h-iurther-objectofim invention sis-rho provide m. ,pezmutatlon lock-whloh 'while preferably adapted for ems-smell school v-or other boxlook sthe box but also will-lock a slidable :drawer takenalong the dine?s-sizoiv Fig.

2 in closed position within said box. "This drawer may be providedwithacover soas to -prwlozle a valuables drawer for keeping moneyorother keepsakes or treasures of the school child from the othercontents of the box; such-as books.

Theseuand other objects of =my invention as may hereinafter appear will:be best understood from the description .of the accompanying'draw-:ings which illustrate an embodiment thereof.

In thedrawings, Fig. 1 is -18, perspective-view of a school boxconstructed in accordance with my invention in closedposition withvitheclosed-cover also retaining :a drawerrin closed-position.

Fig. 2 is a perspectivelriew oithe :box .-shovm in Fig. 1 with thecoverretracted to open-position and the draweropenedgwith portions ofthe front walla-niche cover :being broken-away to show the lengthm"theslidable permutation members in the relative -.:positions thereof.shown :in Fig. 1.

Fig 3 is .arsectional view of the .claoseda'box Figs. 4,. .5, and 6 onerdiagrammatlcrperspenfite views of the "intrinsic parts otmy.improvedtwmutation look in assembled relationship including the latch,the latch ilever-zandthe-wcentml portions of the.slidablepemnutationtmembers,

.:Fig. 4 showing the'ilock .in ioekedhosition with the. notches of thepermutationwmembers moved :out of relative v-permut-ated alignment,showing the notches of the slidablespermntafion members being movedinto-alignment :towreceile the locking arm of the latching lever.afterhhe handles thereof 7 have been-moved into the PG?! mutatedposition :shown :in .1, and ;--6

shows a finger lifting the operating arm-of-ithe latch lever to'pivotthe locking arm thereofwithln .the aligned notches if or aunlatc-hlngthe latoh'prior to lifting the cover to open-position.

Fig. 7 is a front-elevation of the latohxand latoh lever showing how thelatch may pivotas libel-box closes to permit-the locking pin in thebox-body to ride up the point of the latch into the latoh -notch againstthe pressure of the spring even when the latch lever is \retainedinlockedposltion by the lower-ledges of the-permutationmembers in thepositlonishownin-Flgwl.

In the drawings, wherein like chanacters--.of

--reference generally indicaterllkeparts throughout, in generallyindicates asohool box honstrnctecl in accordance with my invention.While I have shown my invention applied tosa school hon-it is obviousthat :the-variousleatures thereof may be appliedto any type-0fcontainer. The box comprises a box :body 1 2-havingzthet-upstand- 1 mentof the drawer 40. "shown to more clearly separate the money or treasuresof the child from the remainder of the box, I provide a cover 54 forsaid compartment 52 which may have a front edge 56 to' :abut the lip 44to alternatively limit the inward ing rear wall l4, the upstanding frontwall l6, and the upstanding end walls [8 and 20. In the embodimentshown, the front and end walls are provided with the upstanding lip 22on the inner portions of the tops thereof.

As stated, one feature of my invention is to provide a box having adrawer which may be automatically locked in closed position when the boxis closed. For this purpose one of said front and end walls l6, l8, or28, as shown the end wall has a cut away portion 24 of substantiallength for a purpose to be described. The box I8 is also provided with acover 26 having a rear wall 28 pivotably mounted, as by the hinges 38,on the rear wall l4 of said box body I2, having cooperating dependingfront and end walls 32,

34, and 36 respectively, also having a depending lip 38 adapted tooverlap the lip 22 on the outer portions of the tops of the body walls.I also provide a drawer 4'0 slidable through said cut away portion 24-having an outer end Wall 42 also having an upstanding lip 44 on theinner portion of the top thereof. Said drawer front wall 42 is movableto a closed position flush with said 'box body end wall 28 to bringtheir respec- :tive lips 44 and 22 into alignment so that on f closingof said cover 26 its lip 38 will overlie the drawer lip 44 to containthe drawer 48 within the box. In the embodiment shown, I also provide apartition 46 separating the portion of the box body 48 interior of saidcut away portion 24 from the remainder. 58 of said box to provide adrawer compartment 52. The draw- 6! compartment 52 may if desired, beprovided with an inner end wall to limit the inward move- In theembodiment movement of the drawer 48 within its compartment 52 whichcover may have a mirrored upper surface.

the cover need not extend all the way around, but may only extend asufficient distance over .the exterior of the cover lip 44 'to retainthe 'cover in locked position within the box and the lip 22 may beomitted, if desired. It is obvious however that as the lips 22 and 38extend all "the way around the box, they will provide means forpreventing insertion of a flat member between the box body and cover tounlatch the latch of my improved specific type of permuta- "tion lockabout to be described. So far as I am aware, however, I am the first "toprovide means on the cover of a box to cooperate with means on thedrawer when slidable If desired, the depending lip 38 on to a closedposition within said box to permit locking'cf the box cover to also lockthe drawe within the box. I

As stated, I employ a permutation lock for locking the cover 26 to thebody l2 of the box. While my improved permutation lock is contained insuch small compass that it may be ideally incorporated in the wall of asmall box The elements of my improved side of said arm and a power arm61 project- 'ing laterally therefrom having a lip 68 projectpoint 13 ofsaid cover.

4 preferably nested slidable permutation members 66 having portionsnamely the lower edges 68 thereof abutting said locking arm 64 to retainsaid latch in locked position and having notches 10 adapted when broughtinto predetermined permutated relative positions to permit pivoting ofsaid locking arm 64 through said aligned notches 18 to permit saidlocking means 68 to tilt said latch 58 to an open position on movementof said operating portion f'62. The permutation membersar'erel'ativelyslidable alon the front wall 32 of the box cover 26. Thefront wall of said box cover i preferably provided with the verticaloperating slot 12 and the top wall 31 of said cover is preferablyprovided with the longitudinal slide slot 14 and the graduations onscales 16 adjacent said slide slot. Each slide member 66 is providedwith an operating handle 18 projecting upwardly through said operatingslot 14. It is thus obvious that the slidable members 66 form a unit asthey are in closely nested relationship so that the handles 18 thereofmay project through the top wall 31 of the box through a single slot vI4opposite the graduated scale 16. v h

In the preferred embodiment shown, the various parts of thepermutationglock hitherto described are specifically constructed andassembled within the box orother container H] as follows: The box bodyis provided with the latching pin 88 projecting inwardly from the frontwall thereof if desired, as shown across a slot 82 projecting downwardlyfrom the top of said front wall thus making said locking pin extendhorizontally rearwardly at right angles to the lockingarm of the latch58. The rear portion of the front wall 32 of the box cover 26 isprovided with a central cut out portion 84 extending at least partiallythrough the top wall of the box and channels 86 extending laterally'ofsaid out out portion 84 in the upper portion of said rear wall.

-The front wall 32 as stated, has the vertical operating arm slot 12through it extending to said cut away portion substantially centrallythereof. The top wall 31 of the cover is profvided with a channel 88extending lengthwise thereof above the cut away portion 84 and channels86 in said front wall and as stated, has the slide slot 14 extendingsubstantially equi-distantly of said operating slot. As stated, thegraduations 16 comprising a. scale containingany 'desired numerals,letters or characters are provided on said cover adjacent said operatingslot.

'- The latch 58 is pivotably mounted in any suitable manner as by thescrew 98, in the cut out portion 84 of the front wall of the cover topivot parallel to the wall of the cover and is provided with thedepending latching work arm 59 having a notch 6| in one side thereof anda point portion 63 tapering from below said notch 6| to the oppositespring H extends from the top of saidlatch preferably from the power arm61 thereof to a fixed In the embodiment shown said spring H has one endthereof soldered or otherwise secured to'said power arm 61 andtheopposite end 13 underlying thepin' 75 projecting rearwardly from saidcover front wall within the cut out portion 84 and may if desired, have'its end fixed by projecting within said wall. 'While I have shown a.resilientwirespring" for 1 this purpose,it is obvious that any suitabletype of spring may be employed or that other means ata-gone may 1 be"employed to norinailly urge t-h'e latc'h mounted on the -samepivot-=screw' 90. *As 's'tat'd,

the latch lever 'or ldcking means is provided with an operating -arm 16-2 projecting forwardly 'throughsaid arm-slot ii and a locking arm Mprojecting rearwardlyt therefrom.

-A plurality -of nested aligned spacers 92 are mounted in thecompartment -94 formed by the longitudinal channels and 8'9 formed inthe top walland upperpo'rtion of the front wall of said "cover-toprovide with tha walls of said compartment "nested" slide guide ways- 95above said locking-arm -64. The fixed spacers are provid'ed."-'With"thealigned. notches 96 in the lower edges thereof. The slidemembers 66a;66b; and '(ilic' as shownin Fig. '2 are "preferably of" a less length"than the--1'ength'of"the-cover" 26' less the length-of the slide slot lt-and are-'each'mounted in one of said guide ways 9 5 and each have thenotcheslfla, Mo and 10min different portions or the "lower edges 68thereof. The respective handle 1ugs-'1 8a,*"-18b,-and 180 projectupwardly substantially -oent'rally"'of "said respective slide members"6611, Boo-66c through saids'ing'le "slide slot 14. If desired,the-handle lugs I'Ba'and "18c taper outwardly the "mannenshown' for easeiii "manipulationof'the finger of the operator, "laterally 'of'the slot'14. For easy dis'ass'e'mblyone end of the slot 'maybe provided" with"the'opening Bdrm-removing the handle lugs l8'selectively throughthesl'ot14.

It is thus" obvious that ithe slidable ,.permuta tion' members Stay-66b;and 660 are laterally snaabiewithin the respective guide ways 95 formedbetween the guide members" 92 and walls of said channels in said. coverand cover 'p'l'ate -I'll-ll. to be"describ'ed. With this-construction,it is ob- 'vious'that"the lower 'edges'li8 of said .s'lidalolepermutation members 66a; s'so, andliGc normal- 1y abut 'saidilatclilever lockingarm '64 as shown in Fig 4 'to' positively prevent operationof. the latch lever thereby retaining 'thelatch in latched position.shown in-Figs. land-5,..however, when each of the respectivehandles 78a;18b, and 180' aremoved opposite predetermined. graduated numbers on saidscale -'96 all the respective notches Ita,"'lllb, and 'Hlr:v are broughtintoalignment with'the notchesQBiin the spacers and with each "other tope'rm'itithe locking arm 54 .of the latch lever or-Ilocking means topivot .upwardly 1 on upward .movement v of. saidoperating arm62 throughthe composite notch form-ed thereby to tilt said latch58 including .thenotch Bl'thereof away' from said latching pin-80 to permit raising ofthecover 26. Fig. 5 'shows the notches l 0a, -'l 0b, and 1 0c brought intoalignment with the notchesQB' 'and'Fig." 6 shows a'finger raising "theoperating arm t2 tobring the locking arm-6'4 of the latch'upwards'within the composite groove formed by'said alignednotches 70a, Tub, andlilo "'and 'ilfi. It is thus apparent that the handles 18a} i811, and180' for *theslidableper- 3 mutation members mustt be movedintorithe-zdesiredpredeterniined irelafionshipsonth' graduated "scale"to permit unlatching otfisaid atone-but 'that "once the --1at'ehis-lat'chedflwhether ithey: are -in this position orlmoved outpf thispositiongthe cover -will automatieally latch inthe oinanner shown 'in li'g. 7 even-with the notch'es mm; 1111b, and W00 out of alignment. nftertherboxis onoe opened tdlock the 'deVioeL it is-obv-ious' it i's'necessary to move th 'halitlle's' out -"of alignment- 1:0 permit the"lower=-' d'ges 158 of the permutati on slidaole- 'memhers GB -ZGSU -andwe toabutthe locking arm 64 'to prev'ent the='=1-atc1i st' from loe-'ingun la'tched.

the "einbodiment showni 'I rovide the cover plate Ill 0" ror'therearsu'rface*of said cover front wall 32 to complete thecompartment'=31l.ld1e tain saidspa'cersllrand 'sl'idemembers 66 withins'aid"compartment. It is "apparent 'that salid ooverpla'te-retains saidspacers and slide-mem- "bers within saidm'omp'artmentin use. 'Sa'idplate "PD 0' may have extension I 0 2 underlying the 'cut out portion-84 of the front wall- '3 has an op-en p ortion W04 *for] lateralpivotaole 'moven'l'ent of the I'a'tch'arniSS therein.

Asstatedhitherto; the guide-ways may *beprovided in "any suitablemannerand the spacers 92 oniitted, if desired. 'l hech'a'nnels -86 and 88 mmalso" be omitted to "have the entire slides :function in rearof thefront-wall- '32 of 'the'c'over and if desired, the slidemembersfifi-may' functioniat any desired distance from each other although "forcompactness 'I' much prefer -theiiested "ar- 'rangenrent shown. It isobvious that the notches *Nla; 10b, and 70:: maybe 'form'edin "differentportions of the slidable'members -lili to achieve (ii-i-Ierentcombinations. Several dinerent permutations, however,"may beattained by reversing the positions of 'the slides inthe compartment.

' Itis apparent therefore, that I'have'provi'deda novel type of "boxparticularly adapted 'ior-'-ia school box and pre'ierablyequipped with anovel type of permutation "lock and if desired, the elemerits ofthep'ermutati'onlock' may be employed for 'lockingother types ofcontainers, with: the advantages described above.

"Itis "understood that my invention is not limite'd to "the specificembodiment shown and that; various deviations thereof.mayv be madeWithout departing from the. spiritrandsscope of the .aD- pended claims.

- What I claim 1. (A per-mutationlock for-a box, having a box :bodyhaving a latching pin. projecting inwardly of the front wall thereof,and a cover for-said box. bodyepivotably mounted on the rear Wall-0fsaidbox body having afront "wall havinga verticaloperating. arm -.slotthr-ou'gh said wall substantially oentrallythereof; a top wall having aslide slot therein extending substantially equidistantly of saidoperating slot;andgraduations on said :covertadjacent said slide slot,comprising alatch .pivotably "mountable l onwthe front wall :of saidcover to pivot parallel thereto having a latching work arm having anotch in oneside thereofan'd a point portion tapering from below saidnotch to :the. opposite side thereof and a power arm: pro- :jectinglateral-1y therefrom having a lip projecting aforwardly thereof; anormally straight spring adaptedtoextendsfrom said l-atchlto a fixedpoint in @said coven urgin said :powerarm .to a position loringingasaidlatching-arm lintoea substantially vertical position Withsaid-lattlhingpin engaged in-yithew notch Lthereof, .yieldable to: permit -saidlatching pinto ride up said inclined point por- 7 tion into said notchto permit automatic latching on closing of said cover, a latch leveralso pivotably mountable on said cover to pivot parallel to said latchto abut said latch lip to pivot said latch to an unlatched position,having an operating arm .adapted to project forwardly through said armslot and a locking arm projecting rearwardly therefrom, a plurality ofnested aligned spacers mountable in rear of the front wall of the coverto provide nested slide guide ways above said locking arm, said spacershaving aligned notches in the lower edges thereof, and a plurality ofpermutation slide members each mountable in one of said guide wayshaving notches in different portions of the lower edges thereof andhandle lugs adapted to project upwardly substantially centrally thereofthrough said cover slide slot whereby the lower edges thereof normallyabut said latch lever locking arm to retain the latch in locked positionand when eachjof said handles are moved opposite predeterminedgraduations all Of said notches are brought into alignment permittingthe locking arm to pivot upwardly on upward movement of said operatingarm, tilting said latch notch away from said latching pin to permitraising of said cover.

2. A permutation lock for a box having a box body and a cover pivotablymounted on said box body, comprising tiltable means to latch said coverto said box body normally spring urged to a latching position, lockingmeans for said latch means having an operating portion movable fromwithout said box and a locking arm, said locking means and latchingmeans being so shaped that movement of said locking means will cause atilting movement of said latching means, and a plurality of nestedslidable members having portions normally abutting said locking arm toretain said latch in locked position and having notches therein adaptedwhen brought into alignment when said slide members are brought intopredetermined permutated relative positions to permit pivoting of saidlocking arm through said aligned notches to permit said locking means totilt said latch to an open position on movement of said operatingportion.

3. A permutation lock for a box having a box body and a cover pivotablymounted on said box body, comprising tiltable means to latch said coverto said box body normally spring urged to a latching position, lockingmeans for said latch means having an operating portion movable fromwithout said box and a locking arm, said locking means and latchingmeans being so shaped that movement of said locking means will a cause atilting movement of said latching means,

and a plurality of slidable members having portions normally abuttingsaid locking arm to retain said latch in locked position and havingnotches therein adapted when brought into alignment when said slidemembers are brought into predetermined permutated relative positions topermit pivoting of said locking arm through said aligned notches topermit said locking means to tilt said latch to an open position onmovement of said operating portion.

4. A permutation lock for a box comprising a box body and a coverpivotably mounted on said box body, comprising tiltable means to latchsaid cover to said box body normally urged to a latching position,locking means for said latch means having an operating portion movablefrom without said box and a locking arm, said locking means and latchingmeans being so shaped that movement of said locking means will cause atilting movement of said latching means, and'a plurality of permutationmembers having portions normally abutting said locking arm and havingnotches therein adapted when brought into alignment when saidpermutation members are moved into predetermined permutated relativepositions to permit pivoting of said locking arm through said compositealigned notches to permit said operating portion to move said lockingmeans to tilt said latch means to an open position.

5. A permutation lock for a box comprising a box body and a coverpivotably mounted on said box body, comprising tiltable means to latchsaid cover to said box body normally urged to a'latching position, saidlocking means and latching means being so shaped that movement of saidlocking means will cause a tilting movement of said latching means,locking means for said latch means having an operating portion movablefrom without said box and a plurality of permutation members adaptedwhen moved into predetermined permutated relative positions to permitsaid operating portion to move said locking means to tilt said latchmeans to an open position.

6. A box comprising a box body, and a cover pivotably mounted on saidbox body, tiltable means to latch said cover to said box body normallyurged to a latching position, locking means for said latch means havingan operating portion movable from Without said box and a locking arm, aplurality of nested slidable members having portions normally abuttingsaid locking arm, said locking means and latching means being so shapedthat movement of said locking means will cause a tilting movement ofsaid latching means, and having notches therein adapted when broughtinto alignment when said slide members are brought into predeterminedpermutated relative positions to permit pivoting of said locking armthrough said composite aligned notches to permit said operating portionto move said locking means to tilt said latch means to an open position,said slidable members having handles extending in nested relationshipthrough a single slot in said box, and graduations on the exterior ofsaid box adjacent said slot.

7. A box comprising a box body, and a cover pivotably mounted on saidbox body, tiltable means to latch said cover to said box body normallyurged to a latching position, locking means for said latch means havingan operating portion movable from without said box and a looking arm, aplurality of slidable members having portions normally abutting saidlocking arm, said locking means and latching means being so shaped thatmovement of said locking means will cause a tilting movement of saidlatching means, and having notches therein adapted when brought intoalignment when said slide members are brought into predeterminedpermutated relative positions to permit pivoting of said locking armthrough said composite aligned notches to permit said operating portionto move said locking means to tilt said latch means to an open position,said slidable members having handles extending through slot means insaid box, and

graduations on the exterior of said box adjacent said slot means.

8. A permutation lock for a box, having a box body having a latching pinprojecting inwardly of the front wall thereof, and a cover for said boxbody pivotably mounted on the rear wall of said box body having a frontwall having a vertical operating arm slot through said wallsubstantially centrally thereof, a top wall having a single slide 9 slottherein extending substantially equi-distantly of said operating slot,and graduations on said cover adjacent said slide slot, comprising alatch pivotably mountable on the front wall of said cover to pivotparallel thereto having a latching Work arm having a notch in one sidethereof and a point portion tapering from below said notch to theopposite side thereof and a power arm projecting laterally therefromhaving a lip projecting forwardly thereof, a normally straight springadapted to extend from said latch to a fixed point in said cover urgingsaid power arm to a position bringing said latching arm into asubstantially vertical position With said latching pin engaged in thenotch thereof, yieldable to permit said latching pin to ride up saidinclined point portion into said notch to permit automatic latching onclosing of said cover, a latch lever also pivotably mountable on saidcover to pivot parallel to said latch to abut said latch lip to pivotsaid latch to an unlatched position, having an operating arm adapted toproject forwardly through said arm slot and a locking arm projectingrearwardly therefrom, and a plurality of nested permutation slidemembers, mounted in rear of the front wall of the cover, having notchesin different portions of the lower edges thereof and handle lugsadapted. to project upwardly substantially centrally thereof throughsaid cover slide slot where- 10 by the lower edges thereof normally abutsaid latch lever locking arm to retain the latch in locked position andwhen each of said handles are moved opposite predetermined graduationsall of said notches are brought into alignment permitting the lockingarm to pivot upwardly on upward movement of said operating arm, tiltingsaid latch notch away from said latching pin to permit raising of saidcover.

SIMS A. PIERCE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

